For the high rollers among us, $500,000 could be considered chump change. Easy come, easy go.
But for Beacon Youth and Family Center, raking in a cool half-mil is something to celebrate. It’ll go a long way in helping the residential treatment facility carry out its work in turning troubled lives around. Work, by the way, that began in 1970 when Beacon was founded as Court House, Inc.
Viva Vegas was the theme for Beacon’s 2008 Cherish the Children Gala. Jamie Angelich was the chief croupier;Annabel Bowlen and Pamela O’Neal served as honorary chairmen.
Bowlen, whose husband, Pat, owns the Denver Broncos, founded Cherish the Children Guild. O’Neal is in her second term as president of it.
Interior designers Marc Roth and Jim Pfister, whose clients have included the late New York hotelier Leona Helmsley, once again donated their talent to make the party area — the Hyatt Regency Tech Center’s grand ballroom — come alive. Expert use of color, lighting, glittery backdrops and flowers from Newberry Bros. combined for a look that was pure Vegas Strip.Maureen Brooks of Brooks International booked the entertainment, a host of Sin City’s top impersonators who brought such showroom headliners as Elvis, Frank Sinatra, Cher, Tina Turner and Barbra Streisand to the Denver stage.
Costumed showgirls mixed and mingled during cocktail hour, and led the conga line that brought guests to their tables for a shrimp and chicken dinner. And when it came time for emcee Vic Lombardi to come to the stage, two of them escorted the CBS4 sports anchor to the microphone.
One of the people he introduced was his new colleague at CBS4, news anchor Karen Leigh, who turned quite a few heads in her white satin strapless cocktail dress. Both Lombardi and Leigh enjoyed their dinner with The Boss, CBS4 General Manager Walt DeHaven, whose wife, Wendy Aiello, served as gala public relations chair.
Intentionally or not, the entertainment wound up being interactive.
Never one to just sit on the sidelines, Jim Pfister didn’t hesitate when “Cher” spotted him at the Bowlens’ ringside table and pulled him on stage with her. She plopped a Sonny Bono-style wig on his head and instructed him to sing along. Dude can carry a tune! “You would have thought he was a plant but he wasn’t,” Jamie Angelich confirmed.
Also lured by the bright lights: committee member Suzy Hamilton, who strutted her stuff as an impromptu backup dancer to Tina Turner. “Those Texas girls know how to do it!” Angelich added.
Angelich, who came to Denver from her native Texas, was accompanied by hubby Alan, a retired founder of Janco Partners, and her sister and brother-in-law, Lynn and Jim Miles of Fort Worth.Sharon Magness Blake and Ernie Blake headed the fund-raiser’s corporate committee, and filled their table with such friends as Dan and Aimee Sporer Caplis; Rich and Holly Kylberg (Rich was looking suave in a Sinatra-style hat and suit); David Alexander; and Yvonne and Bill McCallum.Debra McKenney rounded up some amazing items for the live auction, but was unable to be there to see Paul Behr sell them for equally amazing prices. Don’t feel too sorry for her, though: She was celebrating her birthday in Italy.
Committee member Debi Medved helped Behr promote one of the items, a four-day, $20,000 trip to Lake Louise, Canada, for John F. Kennedy Jr.’s Celebrity Ski Weekend, which attracts the likes of Pierce Brosnan, Susan Sarandon, Alec Baldwin and Kevin Costner. With Medved’s help, it eventually sold for full price.
Ralph and Anne Klomp, owners of Trice Jewelers and recipients of the 2008 Golden Cherub Award for service to Beacon Center, donated a $58,000 diamond necklace for the auction; Lasik specialist Dr. Larry Spivak, there with Andrea Bankoff, stayed in the bidding right up to the minute when he was trumped by Charlie McNeil, who bought it for his wife, Judy.
A silent auction, arranged by Kay Burke and Dayla Newberry, was conducted during cocktail hour.
Not all of the nifty presents were up for sale, though. The gift bags, whose contents were obtained by Judianne Atencio, given to each couple included lip plumper and a makeup consultation from Laura Mercier and Neiman Marcus; a Drambuie liqueur miniature courtesy of Lukas Liquors SuperStore; a spa product and guest pass from Pura Vida and Nectar Spa; candle matches, also from Neiman Marcus; a 30 years of music CD donated by Morton’s DTC; certificates from ReJuv Spa and Palms Tanning Resort Certificate; full-size skin care products from Cosmetic Essence; jewelry polishing cloths from Trice; and a certificate that can be exchanged for a Dimension Z Golf Wedge.Terry Vitale, publisher of Colorado Expression magazine, moved up the press date so gala-goers could take home the very latest issue. Not to be outdone, Denver Magazine publisher Michael Ledwitz, at the event with his wife, Wendy, claimed dibs for next year.
Forty-three people served on the planning committee, and a full 95 percent were there.
Others in the crowd of 600: Beacon Center Executive Director Anne Robinson; board president Michael Miller; Karen Dolan; big ticket sellers Sally Rogers and Andrea Gray; Kevin and Ann Reidy; Bonnie and David Mandarich; Marilynn and Ken Carroll (he’s president of Wild Blue Communications); Stephanie and Perry Odak; Diane Mager with beau Michael Martin; and Drs. Patrick Lillis and Kristin Baird, who had become engaged that very night.
Lillis and Martin also had birthdays that day, and so as a surprise to them, the committee had decorated their table with hats, horns and streamers.Dick Saunders was there minus girlfriend Jeanne Portmann, who was out of town; Judi Wolf, who is chairing the June 21 National Repertory Orchestra Summer Gala; Neyeska and Steve Mut, who were high bidders on a Malcolm Farley original in the live auction and a fur vest from Andreas’ Furs in the silent bidding; Michael Dunahay; Bob and Ruth Beriault; John and Andrea Dikeou; Kelly (in a vintage white dress that had belonged to her mother) and David Storrs; Julia and Sarah Peay (Julia got the “award” for buying the most items in the silent auction); Denise Snyder, owner of Mariel’s in Larimer Square; Nancy and John Sevo, who were fresh from a Florida vacation; Lisa and Dr. Rick Schaler (who donated a $3,000 Mixto Micro Fractional Laser treatment); Jane and Skip Netzorg; Judith Hirsch Walker and Jim Walker; Diane Metz Kreider with husband and ReMAX executive John Kreider; Linda Christie Horn with Steve Robbins; Deana Perlmutter; and John Faught.

Quote of the evening: “If you died too rich, then maybe you lived too poor…” Ralph Klomp in his acceptance speech, quoting his father.

Pictures taken at Viva Vegas are at denverpost.com/seengallery.

Denver Post Society Editor Joanne Davidson can be reached at 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com

After 20 years, The Adoption Exchange Fantasy Ball is more like a dream come true because it has raised enough money to enable hundreds of children to leave the foster care system and be adopted by their “forever families.”
20 Years of Heart and Soul was the theme for the 2007 ball. It was chaired by Brad and Carol McNealy and held at the Donald R. Seawell Grand Ballroom. Decor included oversize photos of some of the children awaiting adoption.
The event was extra special for Kevin and Marlene Lapczynski, who attended with the four daughters whose adoption had been finalized that day: Iesha, Seantae, Rachell and Tyra. Iesha and Seantae wore saris, a tribute to their mom’s Indian heritage.
“Tonight is an ending and a new beginning,” Marlene Lapczynski observed.
Guests started arriving at 6 p.m. to enjoy cocktails and a silent auction. Later, there was a beef tenderloin dinner from Epicurean Catering, whose owners, Larry and Jill DiPasquale, are longtime Adoption Exchange supporters.
Following dinner, the 2007 Wednesday’s Child Award was presented to Dave and Gail Liniger, founders of RE/MAX International and owners of the private Sanctuary golf course near Sedalia. The Linigers have donated use of the course for numerous tournaments benefiting The Adoption Exchange.
The evening wound up with dancing to Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year Marcia Ball.
Those helping the McNealys make the ball a success were auction chair Milena Ernsten; decor coordinators Jane Christie and Rhonda Schneider; and a steering committee that included David Alexander, Judi Butt, Susan Larkin, Cindy Wilkins and Nastassja Zappolo. The Padgett Family Foundation, Venoco, Edgemark Development, the Grills Family Foundation, Epicurean Catering, the HC Companies and the Kiker Team at Keller Williams Realty DTC were among the sponsors.

Pictures taken at the Fantasy Ball can be viewed at denverpost.com/SeenGallery.

Denver Post Society Editor Joanne Davidson can be reached at 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com.

There were, of course, some noteable exceptions. But it wasn’t that long ago that if you didn’t like fast food or chain restaurants you were pretty much out of luck when it came to dining out in Denver.
That has all changed in the past several years; today you have to look harder for a bad restaurant than a good one.
Which is why events like A Taste for Life are such fun. Organizers line up a couple dozen of the best and ask the chefs to serve a signature appetizer, entree or dessert for those eager to sample without having to commit to an entire meal in a single location.
Held at the Exdo Event Center, A Taste for Life was a $95-a-ticket benefit for Project Angel Heart. Presenting Sponsors were the M.A.C AIDS Fund and the event center; Christopher K.M. Leach was the chairman.
Working with David Alexander, Jeff Giadone, Dave McKlveen and Lee Rudofsky, Leach was able to offer food from Alto, Avenue Grill, Black Pearl, Cafe Star, Culinary School of the Rockies, Deluxe, Gelato d’Italia, Hapa Sushi, House of Commons, JAX Fish House, Kiva, La Sandia, Lifestyles Catering, Montecito and Tambien.
Even Project Angel Heart chefs offered tastes of the nourishing food the agency’s volunteers deliver to individuals in the Denver area with life-threatening illnesses.
The benefit began with cocktails and a reverse auction (beverages included Cooranbong Australian Vodka and wines from Budini Winery), followed by remarks from Project Angel Heart leaders.
Guests were then free to walk about the event center to gather up the food they could enjoy at tables hosted by such Project Angel Heart backers as Dan Brogan, Dr. Mark Tamer, Rosalie Goldman, Mark and Lori Cornetta, Ed Bronfin, Pat and Wills Long, Lori Rabinowitz and Ellis McFadden.

Pictures taken at A Taste for Life are posted at denverpost.com/SeenGallery.

Denver Post Society Editor Joanne Davidson can be reached at 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com.

Harry T. Lewis Jr. grew up in Denver’s Park Hill neighborhood, earned an MBA from Dartmouth, served as a leader in the investment world and spearheaded numerous projects that addressed Denver’s growth, planning and future development.
On Nov. 1, Colorado Bright Beginnings honored him for these contributions and more at a dinner held in the Donald R. Seawell Grand Ballroom.
“Harry truly understands the value of early childhood development and the
importance of providing parents with support and encouragement to shape
their children’s lives,” observes Kyle Seedorf, vice chair of the Bright Beginnings board. “We are honored that he is helping us get the message out about the power parents have to influence their children’s
future.”
Founded by then-Gov. Roy Romer and the late Brad Butler, a retired chief executive for Procter & Gamble, the nonprofit organization provides Colorado parents with guidance, knowledge and tools to create a bright beginning for their children during the critical first three years of life.
Lewis began his professional life as a certified public accountant with what was then known as Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co. Later, he became a
general partner and executive committee member at Boettcher & Co., and a senior vice president/Rocky Mountain Region for Dain Bosworth, Inc.
before starting his own firm, Lewis Investments.
Lewis, who is widowed, has had numerous leadership positions with such groups as the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce; Downtown Denver, Inc.; the Regional Transportation District; Denver Museum of Nature and Science; and and the Stapleton Redevelopment Foundation.
Lewis also served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
“You Are the Sunshine of My Life” was the dinner’s theme, and guests included George and Karyn Sparks (he chairs the Bright Beginnings board and is the chief executive at Denver Museum of Nature and Science); the 2006 honoree, Dr. Dean Prina; Brad Butler’s widow, Erna Butler, an honorary board member; and her daughter and son-in-law, Nancy and Tony Accetta. Nancy serves as secretary of the Bright Beginnings board.
Also in the crowd of 400: Caz Matthews, director of Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield’s WellPoint Foundation; former board chair Dr. Steve Berman and his wife, Elaine, a member of the State Board of Education; Terry Biddinger, director of external relations for the University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center School of Nursing; Dan Ritchie, chancellor emeritus of the University of Denver and current leader of the Denver Center for the Performing Arts; Delta Dental of Colorado President Kate Paul; and Barry and Arlene Hirschfeld.
And, state Sen. Chris Romer; the superintendent of the Denver Public Schools, Michael Bennet; Denver City Council members Carol Boigon and Doug Linkhart; Megan Ferland, executive director of the Colorado Children’s Campaign; Elsa Holguin of the Rose Community Foundation; United Way chief Michael Durkin; George Beardsley; Gail Klapper; Trygve and Vicki Myhren; Anna Alejo of the Western Union Foundation; Schenkein co-owner Leanna Clark; 7News anchor Bertha Lynn; Colorado Symphony chairman Cy Harvey and his wife, Lyndia; Wells Fargo Bank senior vice president Pat Cortez; interior designer David Alexander; and Colorado & Co. co-host Mark McIntosh, the evening’s emcee.
Sponsors included Erna Butler, Wells Fargo, Denver Investment
Advisors, CH2MHill, the Piton Foundation, Martha Records and Rich
Rainaldi, Key Bank and the WellPoint Foundation
Bright Beginnings’ programs are free and are provided by 14
regional affiliates that reach all of Colorado’s 64 counties. In
2006, more than 12,000 families benefited from the organization’s work.
For more information about Colorado Bright Beginnings, call 303-433-6200
or visit brightbeginningsco.org.

Pictures taken at the Bright Beginnings gala can be viewed at denverpost.com/SeenGallery.

Denver Post Society Editor Joanne Davidson can be reached at 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com. Her column appears every Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.

Study after study has shown that when it comes to charitable fundraisers, Denver has more per capita than any comparably sized city in the nation. Joanne Davidson has been covering them for The Denver Post since 1985, coming here from her native California where she'd spent the previous seven years as San Francisco bureau chief for U.S. News & World Report magazine.